Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22235 by Malcolm Chisholm on 6 February 2002, whether the correspondence between it and Her Majesty’s Government concerning the loss of Attendance Allowance to Scottish pensioners resulting from the implementation of free personal and nursing care for pensioners was automatically covered by Part II of its Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information and what consideration it gave or will now give to releasing this correspondence under Part I, 3(v).

Malcolm Chisholm: Paragraph 3(v) of Part 1 of the  Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information commits the Scottish Executive to release information except where disclosure would not be in the public interest as specified in Part II of the Code. Disclosure of the information requested in question S1W-22235 would not be in the public interest as it would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion including confidential communications between departments, public bodies and regulatory bodies.

Council Tax

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to West Dunbartonshire Council to improve its council tax collection rates.

Peter Peacock: Following from the work of the joint "It Pays to Pay" Working Group, we have introduced legislative changes to allow all councils to start collecting council tax earlier and to take action more quickly when people fall into arrears. Good practice guidance has also been issued on council tax billing and collection arrangements.

Credit Unions

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful it has been in assisting with the establishment of credit unions and what is being done to ensure that existing credit unions, such as those in Dalmuir, Dunbartonshire and East Clydebank, continue to trade successfully.

Iain Gray: The Executive will assist the development of the credit union movement in Scotland through the implementation of the action plan "Unlocking the Potential". £1.5 million of new resources are available over this and the next two years to help implement the plan. To help credit unions meet the Financial Services Authority’s new regulatory changes (coming into effect on 1 July), every credit union in Scotland has been offered free compliance training.

Debt Management

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many more debtors will receive advice as a result of the £3 million additional funding for new debt advice services; how much earlier than at present debtors will now be able to access free and independent debt advice and what support will be available for front-line advisors.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £3 million additional funding for new debt advice services will be used to employ new and additional debt advice workers.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail those groups and/or individuals who have been consulted on the allocation of the £3 million additional funding for new debt advice services.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new monies allocated for debt advice services will be used to expand the breadth and quality of existing free advice services rather than establishing new organisations.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much new money for debt advice services will be available as a result of the report of the Working Group on a Replacement for Poinding and Warrant Sales , Striking the Balance: A New Approach to Debt Management ; how it will ensure that this is additional and not recycled money; how the money will be allocated, and who will decide the allocation and in consultation with whom.

Iain Gray: As announced by the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice, in the answer given to question S1W-21207 on 19   December 2001, an additional £3 million per annum will be made available for the provision of money advice. This additional funding is intended to enhance local availability of money advice. It will be targeted on improving front-line services.

  It is envisaged that this money will be made available through local authorities. As local authorities currently provide the majority of funding for local money advice provision, this has the advantage of building on existing structures and is the best way of ensuring that resources are available quickly.

  We will consult COSLA on the distribution of additional resources between all local authorities, taking account of relevant factors such as additional outcomes to be secured. The decision on allocations to local authorities will be made by Scottish Executive ministers.

  We envisage that local authorities will involve local providers in the planning and decision-making process. However, consultation is ultimately a matter for local authorities who are best placed to assess local needs.

  Support for front-line money advisers, such as training, is currently available from existing national organisations, in particular Money Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland. The Executive is at present considering whether, given the planned expansion of services, greater support is needed for money advice workers.

Enterprise

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by local economic forums in determining what they do in Year 2.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Local economic forums first responsibility will be to continue to focus on delivering their action plans to reduce overlap and duplication, streamline access to business support services and deliver real improvements. Some forums may also wish to address issues of local strategic importance but new national priorities should await completion of the first task. The Scottish Executive will publish details of this shortly.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance the provision of greenspace in East and West Dunbartonshire.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive recently approved Scottish Natural Heritage's business case for their "Greenspace for Communities" initiative. This will allow Scottish Natural Heritage, the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Greenspace Trust, and other organisations including local authorities within the area, to enhance and manage greenspaces with the aid of additional funding from the New Opportunities Fund.

Finance

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of how many Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership schemes or proposed schemes Arthur Andersen or any of its subsidiaries and associated companies have been awarded (a) contracts and (b) sub-contracts and (c) have undertaken consultancy work since May 1997.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22503 on 13 February 2002, which gave the information requested for the Scottish Executive and its agencies. The information requested is not held centrally for other public bodies as the contracts are a matter for the individual bodies concerned.

Finance

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the current guidance to local authorities on Public/Private Partnerships and Private Finance Initiatives and what plans it has to revise this guidance.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-4565 on 31 January 2002.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates to be the cost to (a) local authorities and (b) the NHS of the recent severe weather damage.

Mr Andy Kerr: No local authority has submitted information on increased costs to the Executive. No information about additional costs has been received by the Executive from NHS trusts.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether clear guidance will be issued in regard to the concept of notional capital in relation to assessment of those eligible for the payment of care in the community and residential care allowances.

Hugh Henry: Notional capital is defined as part of the residential care charging requirements of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992. Clear guidance on the issue is available in circular SWSG6/98 Charges for Residential Accommodation .

  Copies of the circular are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 8853) or can be accessed from:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/swsg/index-f/c212.htm

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that, once an individual’s care needs have been assessed, those needs are then met regardless of the resources available to either the individual concerned or the relevant local authority.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22126 on 4 February 2002.

Health

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Health and Community Care and/or either of his deputies have had with the Chief Medical Officer regarding the postponement of tonsillectomy operations in the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Following the postponement of non-emergency tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies across Scotland, the Executive continues to monitor the situation. The Chief Medical Officer is keeping ministers fully appraised of the most up-to-date position.

Health Statistics

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the publication dates for all up-dated data previously available in Chapter M, Hospital and Clinical Activity, of Scottish Health Statistics 2000 .

Malcolm Chisholm: A wide range of health statistics are published by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency for NHSScotland (ISD Scotland). All ISD Scotland publications are now placed on the ISD Scotland website; the website now contains more information than was previously presented in Scottish Health Statistics . Although in future Scottish Health Statistics will not continue as a specific publication, the contents page will be retained and used as one of the indexes for the rest of the ISD Scotland website.

  As part of ongoing reviews of published health statistics in Scotland, which include consultation with major users of health statistics, it is possible that the content and format of the statistics that previously formed Chapter M (Hospital and Clinical Activity) of Scottish Health Statistics will be revised. Any resulting changes will be clearly explained on the relevant webpages.

  The release dates for ISD Scotland publications for the month of March 2002 will be placed on the following websites on 28 February 2002:

  ISD Scotland website: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/index.htm

  Scottish Executive website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/recent.asp

  National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/updates.pdf

  Information relating to ISD Scotland publications for the year commencing 1 April 2002 will be issued as part of the ISD Scotland Statistical Plan 2002-2003 and is expected to be available from the following web address from March 2002:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/National_statistics/index.htm.

Higher Education

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how research funding will change in the light of the Research Assessment Exercise in 2001.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21633 on 23 January 2002.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to West Dunbartonshire Council to improve its rate of collection of rent from council-owned housing.

Ms Margaret Curran: The collection of council house rents is a matter for individual local authorities.

Mental Health

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what 24 hour acute psychiatric provision is currently available.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for each NHS board area to organise care and support that reflect the needs of its community.

  NHS hospital services, including specialist acute psychiatric care, operate on a seven day, 24 hour basis. Otherwise, the aim is for care that matches need and for mental health in particular, to provide care from community, primary care and specialist settings based on integrated arrangements designed to prevent and manage crisis in a safe and supportive manner.

Mental Health

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist assistance is available for mental health services to ethnic minorities.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health and the  Framework for Mental Health Services , but principally Fair for All , recognise the distinctive cultural and other needs of people and family groups from ethnic minorities that must be considered by agencies when organising care and support. Each recognises the responsibilities placed upon NHS Scotland in delivering a culturally competent service.

  Local care agencies are expected to respond to the particular needs of their local communities and design services that are accessible and appropriate in all respects.

Museums

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have visited the National Museum of Scotland since April 2001.

Dr Elaine Murray: The National Museums of Scotland (NMS) collect visitors numbers as a matter or routine. Visitor figures for each museum within the NMS estate since April 2001 are set out in the following table:

  


Museum 
  

Number of Visitors 
  

Notes 
  



Royal Museum of Scotland/Museum of Scotland 
  

555,971 
  
 



National War Museum 
  

333,379 
  
 



Museum of Flight 
  

51,576 
  
 



Museum of Scottish Country Life 
  

36,192 
  

Museum open since July 2001. 
  



Shambelie House Museum of Costume 
  

12,698 
  
 



Granton Store 
  

630

NHS Waiting Times

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients received an angiography within 12 weeks of their initial referral, expressed also as a percentage of the total number of patients waiting to receive an angiography, in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients received an angioplasty operation within 24 weeks of having an angiography, also expressed as a percentage of the total number of patients waiting to receive an angioplasty operation, in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is being compiled by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency, but it will take a few days to complete because of the need to undertake data linkage of individual patient records.

  I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and will arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

NHS Waiting Times

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients were admitted to hospital from the waiting list for treatment within nine months of their initial referral, in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: In the year ended 30 September 2001, 96.7% of NHSScotland patients were admitted to hospital for treatment within nine months of being placed on the inpatient/day case waiting list.

Public Sector Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of Communities Scotland’s Quality News are issued each year and what the total annual cost is of printing, publication and distribution.

Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland’s Quality News is issued twice a year. The combined print run for the last two issues was 9,500 copies. The total cost for printing, publication and distribution of these two issues was £9,970.

Roads

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that derelict and vacant land reclamation in sites near or adjacent to the M74 northern extension is carried out simultaneously with the construction of the road.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is working with the local authorities and Scottish Enterprise to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities that the M74 will create for the regeneration and reclamation of the land along the road corridor.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning will visit Aviemore and travel along the A95 in order to observe the condition of the road and what assessment it has made of the importance of the road to the whisky industry and the local economy as a whole.

Lewis Macdonald: I visited Aviemore and travelled along the A95 on 11 February 2002.

  Trunk roads are defined as nationally important routes that serve destinations of importance to industry, commerce, agriculture and tourism. As such the 1996 Shaping the Trunk Road Network report designated the A95 a trunk road in view of its importance to the economically productive Strath Spey valley industries (including the whisky industry) and in order to provide a gateway to the fishing centres along the Moray coast.

Rural Development

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to have the current ban on fishmeal in ruminant feedstuff lifted.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17515 on 22 August 2001.

  Once such a test is developed and fully validated, the Executive will seek to have the current EU prohibition on the use of fishmeal in ruminant feedstuffs lifted at the earliest possible opportunity.

Schools

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Director of Education at South Ayrshire Council regarding any proposed Public/Private Partnership initiative for schools in the area.

Nicol Stephen: None.

Schools

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria is applied in the consideration of a school closure and what bearing does a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education have.

Nicol Stephen: In consulting with parents and school boards on school closure proposals, and subsequently reaching decisions, education authorities would be expected to take account of educational, financial and community issues and other relevant considerations. Whether or not an inspection report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education would have any bearing on an authority’s consideration of a school closure proposal would be a matter for the authority.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will obtain a valuation of the land and buildings occupied by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) at Hope Terrace, Edinburgh; whether, should the SNH head office be relocated from Edinburgh, the capital receipt from the sale of the premises at Hope Terrace would be available (a) in whole or (b) in part for relocation costs, and how any partial contribution to relocation costs arising from any such capital receipt would be calculated.

Allan Wilson: In accordance with the general principles in undertaking a relocation review, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will consider issues such as costs, social issues, personnel issues, transport and environmental considerations. A valuation of Hope Terrace, Edinburgh will be obtained to ascertain the potential costs or benefits in relocating. Should the review recommend moving from Hope Terrace, capital receipts of up to £1 million would be available to SNH to cover relocation or other costs: capital receipts of more than £1 million would similarly be available with the consent of the Scottish ministers.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any deadline has been fixed for the submission by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) of a report costing the options for relocating its headquarters from Edinburgh; which locations are being considered for such a relocation; whether SNH staff will have access to the full report prior to its final submission, and whether any parts of the report will not be disclosed and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Allan Wilson: It was announced on 19 November 2001 that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) would undertake a relocation review, as there is a property lease break in one of its Edinburgh offices in 2005. The review will access issues such as costs, quality and efficiency of service, economic factors such as unemployment, availability and suitability of property and staff, transport and environmental issues. Staff and unions will be consulted before decisions are taken on the most suitable location for SNH staff. The target date for completion of the review is mid-2002 and ministers will take a decision on the most suitable HQ location for SNH based on the review findings.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any headquarters functions of Scottish Natural Heritage that are carried out (a) at Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, (b) at Bonnington Bond, Leith, (c) in Inverness, (d) in Aberdeen, (e) in Battleby and (f) in Clydebank.

Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage carries out a range of headquarters functions at its Hope Terrace, Bonnington, Battleby, Inverness, Aberdeen and Clydebank locations.

  The following table gives details of the HQ functions carried by out by one or more staff at each office location.

Suicide

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what current figures are available on the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide in the community.

Malcolm Chisholm: Figures on the incidence of suicide are as follows:

  Table 1 - Suicide and Undetermined Deaths, by Age and Sex, Scotland – 1970, 1990-2000

  


Year 
  

All Ages 
  



Total 
  

M 
  

F 
  



1970 
  

618 
  

364 
  

254 
  



1990 
  

749 
  

566 
  

183 
  



1991 
  

706 
  

523 
  

183 
  



1992 
  

793 
  

576 
  

217 
  



1993 
  

912 
  

679 
  

233 
  



1994 
  

834 
  

611 
  

223 
  



1995 
  

836 
  

625 
  

211 
  



1996 
  

846 
  

620 
  

226 
  



1997 
  

874 
  

655 
  

219 
  



1998 
  

878 
  

650 
  

228 
  



1999 
  

874 
  

663 
  

211 
  



2000 
  

878 
  

674 
  

204 
  



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

  Table 2 - Death by Suicide and Self Inflicted Injury, by Age and Sex, Scotland – 1970, 1990-2000

  


Year 
  

All Ages 
  



T 
  

M 
  

F 
  



1970 
  

397 
  

236 
  

161 
  



1990 
  

535 
  

415 
  

120 
  



1991 
  

525 
  

394 
  

131 
  



1992 
  

569 
  

418 
  

151 
  



1993 
  

615 
  

473 
  

142 
  



1994 
  

624 
  

463 
  

161 
  



1995 
  

623 
  

476 
  

147 
  



1996 
  

597 
  

435 
  

162 
  



1997 
  

599 
  

451 
  

148 
  



1998 
  

649 
  

486 
  

163 
  



1999 
  

637 
  

500 
  

137 
  



2000 
  

648 
  

512 
  

136 
  



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

  Table 3 - Death by Injury Undetermined whether Accidentally or Purposely Inflicted, by Age and Sex, Scotland 1970, 1990-2000

  


Year 
  

All Ages 
  



T 
  

M 
  

F 
  



1970 
  

221 
  

128 
  

93 
  



1990 
  

214 
  

151 
  

63 
  



1991 
  

181 
  

129 
  

52 
  



1992 
  

224 
  

158 
  

66 
  



1993 
  

297 
  

206 
  

91 
  



1994 
  

210 
  

148 
  

62 
  



1995 
  

213 
  

149 
  

64 
  



1996 
  

249 
  

185 
  

64 
  



1997 
  

275 
  

204 
  

71 
  



1998 
  

229 
  

164 
  

65 
  



1999 
  

237 
  

163 
  

74 
  



2000 
  

230 
  

162 
  

68 
  



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

  Note: In considering deaths from suicide it is usual to add deaths where it is undetermined whether an injury was accidentally or purposely inflicted.

  Overall totals are given in Table 1.

  Table 2 covers suicide and self-inflicted injury.

  Table 3 covers injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted.

  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Information on the number of attempted suicides in the community is not available centrally. However, an estimate of the number of attempted suicides can be obtained from hospital discharge records. In 2000 there were 11,644 people admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of "suicide/self-inflicted injury". For comparison, the figures for 1981 and 1991 were 8,570 and 9,022 respectively.

Traffic

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether traffic congestion is damaging to business.

Lewis Macdonald: Road congestion imposes significant costs on business and the wider economy. The 1999 Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment report, Transport and the Economy , acknowledged the fact that traffic congestion can act as a constraint on economic growth, but noted that the linkages between transport and the economy are complex.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail and cost the alternatives to the construction of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie as part of the Katrine Water Project submitted by (a) Trossach Water, (b) Balfour Beatty et.al., (c) Craigmaddie Water and (d) Alfred McAlpine et.al.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22821 on 20 February 2002. The consortia tendering for the Katrine Water Project were not asked to provide proposals for new treatment works.

  As part of the tendering exercise each consortia were asked to apply rates to a bill of quantities for a hypothetical generic works. The purpose of this was only to directly compare commercial tender rates and to give guidance rates for the later calculation of a target price.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest point above ground will be of the proposed new water treatment plant at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  The highest point of the proposed new treatment works at Milngavie is the roof above the lime storage silo at the north end of the treatment building which is at an elevation of 126.4 meters above Ordnance Datum (AOD). The general level of the ridge of the treatment building is 125.4 meters AOD. The level of the hillside behind and to the west of the building is 139 meters AOD.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis West of Scotland Water considers the construction of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie to be the best value solution for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22387 (8 February 2002), S1W-22134 (5 February 2002), S1W-22133 (5 February 2002), S1W-22086 (4 February 2002) and S1W-22155 (11 February 2002).

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by West of Scotland Water before it determined its preferred option for the location of a new water treatment plant as part of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  The preferred option became a firm proposal when the planning application was submitted. Prior to this Katrine Water Project was very proactive in communicating with statutory and non-statutory consultees. In total 71 statutory and non-statutory consultees were contacted. Consultations began as early as March 2000 as part of the Babtie Mott Strategic Review. As the project developed, meetings were held with the major consultees and presentations were given. Initially this was to explain the large numbers of options, then to seek their views about the short-listed options, and more recently to include for any concerns they had in the design and development of the preferred scheme. In addition, during the process of surveying possible sites and pipe routes, members of the project team and our land agents visited some 75 landowners, occupiers and tenants. A further consultation process was undertaken as part of their Environmental Impact Assessment by our consultants, ERM. They wrote to 62 bodies giving details of our proposals and seeking their comments.

  The project team has also met with and given presentations to, on several occasions, local community and interest groups including: Baldernock Community Council, Milngavie Community Council, the Mugdock Association, Strathblane Community Council and the Baldernock Amenity Society.

  In August 2001, once the preferred scheme had been identified, a website (www.katrinewaterproject.com) was established and a caravan display taken to the Milngavie and Baldernock areas. It was exhibited over a continuous period of 26 days and received nearly 3,000 visitors. Comment sheets were available. Those completed showed no disapproving comments on the detail of the initial proposal itself. Some asked for information on other options considered and most raised concerns on aspects of project implementation.

  Following the caravan initiative, public meetings were held in Balmore and Milngavie on 29 and 30 August to explain the project proposals, respond to queries and seek feedback. To satisfy requests for further information on the site selection process, a third meeting was held on 26 September. At that meeting further documentation was handed out which gave cost comparisons and explained how the data previously given out had been used to come to the preferred option.

  Since the planning application was submitted, material relating to the submission has been displayed at six local venues where members of the project team have been available to explain the proposals to anyone interested.

  At all stages the various public meetings and displays have been publicised in the local press and by widespread distribution of posters.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the reasons for the decision by West of Scotland Water Authority to engage Stirling Water as contractor for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22821 on 20 February 2002.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the construction of the works associated with the Katrine Water Project will commence and be completed.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  The construction of the works associated with the Katrine Water Project cannot commence until East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) grants planning approval. The work must be constructed, commissioned and supply drinking water to the Glasgow distribution system by December 2005 in order to comply with drinking water quality regulations.

  If EDC grants planning approval, and Scottish ministers grant listed building approval by June this year, the construction work should be completed by mid-summer 2005.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any delays in the development approvals process would have on the costs of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:

  Any delay in the approvals process will have an adverse financial impact on the Katrine water Project.

  Planning was submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council in November and the statutory approval/decision period is four months, i.e. until mid-March 2002. Thereafter there is a 28-day period for Scottish ministers to give listed building approval bringing us to mid-April.

  A delay of greater than four to six weeks will inconvenience the excavation operations which rely on better weather for their efficiency. This means that more muck would be shifted in the winter months resulting in increased operation times and costs.

  Should a planning inquiry be deemed necessary, the consequent delays and costs are a larger order of magnitude. Our best advice is that an inquiry cannot be carried out in less than one year and is more likely to take 18 to 24 months. Direct costs of such an enquiry could easily be in the order of £2.5 to £3 million. Consequential increased construction costs resulting from the delay could bring this figure up to £10 million.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what will happen to the eight members of West of Scotland Water’s tourist office at Loch Katrine and the SS Walter Scott screw steamer following the commissioning of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: Tourism at Loch Katrine and the Katrine Water Project are not related.